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President Bharrat Jagdeo, Chairman of CARICOM Heads of Government Secretary General Honourable Ministers Special Dignitaries Members of the Diplomatic Corps Heads of International and Regional Organizations Esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen Words alone can never convey my profound sense of joy and gratitude on the conferment at today’s opening ceremony of the OCC. |
Your Excellency, Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Chairman of the Conference
Other Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
Your Excellency Edwin Carrington, Secretary General of the Caribbean Community
Specially invited guest, Your Excellency, Leonel Fernández, President of the Dominican Republic
Specially invited guest, Your Excellency Karmalesh Sharma, Secretary General of the Commonwealth
THE MOST HONOURABLE P. J. PATTERSON, ON, PC, OE, QC UPON BEING AWARDED THE ORDER OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (OCC), 2 JULY 2009
As I join the pantheon of previous recipients who have made their indelible stamp on the rich tapestry of the Caribbean in the fields of academia, learning, literature, law, sports, medicine, political and institutional leadership, I feel proud and privileged to have been considered so deserving.
As Secretary-General, it gives me a special pleasure to welcome you to the Headquarters country of the Caribbean Community and to the Thirtieth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, the Supreme Authority of the Community. In welcoming distinguished visiting Heads of Government and other delegates, I can attest to the generous hospitality that you will be receiving while in Guyana, the Secretariat Staff having been its appreciative beneficiaries over the life of our Community.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Thirtieth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOOM) opened Thursday evening at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, Guyana, with Heads of Government acknowledging the strides the integration movement had made and sharing their vision for the future of the Community.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) `The time for preparation is past and the moment of performance is here,’ His Excellency Edwin Carrington, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) said Thursday.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) `The time for preparation is past and the moment of performance is here,’ His Excellency Edwin Carrington, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) said Thursday.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Percival James Patterson, on Thursday, charged Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to stand up and be counted for the Community.
In accepting CARICOM’s highest honour - the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC) - Mr. Patterson told Heads of Government at the Opening Ceremony of their 30th Meeting in Georgetown, Guyana, that CARICOM was like “a growing plant which must be nurtured … Unless we tend to the tree, it will wither…”
President Bharrat Jagdeo, Chairman of CARICOM Heads of Government
Secretary General
Honourable Ministers
Special Dignitaries
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Heads of International and Regional Organizations
Esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen
Words alone can never convey my profound sense of joy and gratitude on the conferment at today’s opening ceremony of the OCC.
Salutations
I welcome you all to this Thirtieth Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government.
To my distinguished colleagues, their delegations and special invitees, I extend warmest greetings and best wishes for a pleasant and productive stay.
Special thanks are due to Prime Minister Barrow for hosting us in Belize in March and for his effective stewardship as Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government over the past six months.